Ian Thorpe
From QueerBio.com
Contents
Country
Australia
Birth - Death
1982 -
Occupation
Sports
Notable Achievements
Olympic Gold, Order of Australia, World Champion
Description
Swimmer who specialises in freestyle, but also competes in backstroke and the individual medley. Has won five Olympic Gold medals (2000 - 3 gold; 2004 - 2 gold), eleven World Championship golds (1998-2003), and numerous other medals. Retired from swimming in 2006, and further attempts at a comeback have been dogged by injury and illness. Notable bouts of depression, alcohol, and suicide were followed by his recent announcement that he was gay and stories of bullying as a youth. Created the Ian Thorpe Fountain for Youth to raise funds for children's causes. Author of his autobiography, 'This Is Me' (2012).
